Novosibirsk State Technical University has developed a methodological material for representatives of administrations and territorial public self-government, which will make it possible to more effectively influence conflicts caused by social, economic and intercultural problems of the inhabitants of the territory.
Sociologists from NSTU-NETI have developed a textbook containing recommendations on forecasting, preventing and resolving conflicts in the territories. The manual, published with the support of the Ministry of Regional Development of the Novosibirsk Region, examines conflicts in small towns without the traditional historical residence of ethnic groups, but currently undergoing the processes of ethnicization.
According to Zoya Otto, Associate Professor of the Department of Sociology and Mass Communications at NSTU-NETI, Candidate of Sociological Sciences, the textbook entitled "Dealing with conflicts in the context of ethnicization of territories in urban agglomeration settlements" was preceded by monitoring network content, the nature of conflict in the cities of Berdsk, Iskitim and Linevo settlement of the Iskitim district of the Novosibirsk region, as well as assessing the current situation, prospects prevention and resolution of possible conflicts by groups such as representatives of municipal authorities, public opinion leaders, school leaders and active local residents. All of them are not only able to see and evaluate information about the interethnic situation in the territory, but also influence the development of conflict scenarios," Zoya Otto said.
The researchers also identified the triggers of the conflict, which serves as a "trigger" in the confrontation between the parties. As a rule, this is any change in life in a particular part of a city or village, where the processes of ethnicization of the territory are observed and problems arise that affect resources or access to resources — material or cultural. As a rule, conflicts in territories are often a reaction to such changes and are ethnically marked, although their sources may lie in social, economic and political contradictions, and the participants are people of different nationalities.
Ethnically marked conflicts are considered to be less frequent and intense than ethnic conflicts in the territories of bicultural residence, however, according to scientists, it is equally important to work with them so that they do not turn into a "hot" form. "Work with ethnically marked conflicts should begin earlier than the moment of their manifestation, and end much later than the cessation of conflict actions, while the work should be systematic, affect all areas of relations in which the conflict agenda could manifest itself, and be carried out in relation to all subjects, places, levels that it can affect. Only then can we talk about conflict resolution, and not about its neutralization," said Irina Skalaban, Professor of the Department of Social Work and Social Anthropology at NSTU-NETI, Doctor of Sociological Sciences.
Conflict resolution involves several strategies with a clear sequence. First of all, these are activities aimed at establishing mutual understanding between communities in the same territory, supporting vulnerable groups whose interests have suffered in conflict, working to eliminate intimidation, and mandatory support for the law. Culture also helps — the very language that does not require an interpreter and promotes mutual understanding and mutual respect. "In addition, the conflict opens up the opportunity for its participants, residents and those involved in working with it to learn peaceful coexistence, techniques and conflict resolution skills," Irina Skalaban emphasized.
According to sociologists, an important part of conflict resolution is dealing with emotions, perceptions, and problems that can increase the degree of conflict. In particular, in order to prevent the situation from escalating, the scientists of NSTU-NETI advise to refrain from the initial emotional reaction — it is always sharp — and switch to the questions: why is the opponent behaving this way? What are the motives of the other party's behavior?
Let us remind you that this is not the first study of urban conflicts by scientists from Novosibirsk University. The Urban Research Laboratory of the Institute of Social Technologies of NSTU-NETI, with the support of municipal and regional authorities, scientific foundations, has been running the only one in Russia for five years.A geoinformation database of urban agglomeration conflicts. In October 2024, as part of the project "Complex Urban Conflicts: Connectivity and Sustainability", currently funded by the Russian Science Foundation, with the support of the Novosibirsk City Hall, the laboratory presented a paper on "Ethnosocial change in complex urban conflicts in the Novosibirsk agglomeration".